Hillsborough County sheriff warns of latest telephone scam

MANCHESTER — The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about telephone callers posing as deputies or other law enforcement officials to scam them out of money.

Scammers are calling people saying there is a warrant out for the person’s arrest, but the matter can be taken care of by paying a "fine" with a Green Dot money card.

The victim is told to got to a convenience store, buy a Green Dot money card, add the fine amount - usually several hundred dollars - and then call the impersonator back with the number on the back of the card.

The scammer then uses the number to remove the money electronically from the account.

Officials say the sheriff's office would never call someone and demand money or any other form of payment.